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Warm Home Discount and winter help

A one-off £150 off your electricity bill each winter, for households on means-tested benefits. Most people get it automatically. Here's that, and the other cold-weather payments.

£150off your electricity bill

23 Aug 2026qualifying date

£25per very cold week (CWP)

£62Winter Heating Payment (Scotland)

Warm Home Discount

England and Wales

You qualify if, on 23 August 2026, your supplier was in the scheme, your name (or your partner's) was on the electricity bill, and you got any of:

Universal Credit
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit
income-related Employment and Support Allowance

Letters go out between late October 2026 and early January 2027. Most people need do nothing; the discount is on your bill by 31 March 2027. If your letter asks you to call, do it by 26 February 2027.

Scotland

You get it automatically if you get Pension Credit, or Universal Credit with a disability amount, or you're on Universal Credit without work and have a child under 5. Otherwise you may be in the 'broader group' and must ask your electricity supplier. Places are limited, so apply early.

Northern Ireland

The Warm Home Discount doesn't run in Northern Ireland. Ask about the Affordable Warmth scheme and your supplier's hardship help.

Prepayment meter? You still qualify. Your supplier will tell you how you'll get it, for example as a top-up voucher.

Cold Weather Payment (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)

£25 for each 7-day spell when it's 0°C or below near you, between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2027. It's automatic if you get Pension Credit, or Universal Credit while not working and with a child under 5, a disabled child, or limited capability for work.

Scotland's winter payments

Winter Heating Payment: a single £62.00 payment every winter for people on qualifying benefits, whatever the weather.
Child Winter Heating Payment: £265.50 a year for children on the highest care rate of Child Disability Payment or DLA.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment: replaced the Winter Fuel Payment. See Winter Fuel Payment.

Sources

Every figure on this page is copied from these official pages, for April 2026 to March 2027 (checked 3 November 2026):

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This is a guide, not advice. The office that runs each benefit decides who gets it. Rules can change.